Valve-spring lifter.



A. PLACEK.

VALVE SPRING LIFTER.

APPLICATION man, SEPT. 28. I916.

LQQQMYQ Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

ANTON PLAGEK, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VALVE-SPRING- LIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917..

Application filed September 28, 1916. Serial No. 122,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON PLAonK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Valve- Spring Lifter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in valve spring lifters, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the jaws always maintain the parallel relation to each other, thereby providing a square seat for the end of the spring at all times, and avoiding the buckling of the spring and the possible slipping thereof from engagement with the valve lifter when the jaws of the valve lifter are forced apart.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a valve spring lifter which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be used in close quarters and inaccessible places, which can be easily inserted in position and quickly operated to compress the valve spring in the necessary manner, and which obtains a square bearing upon the spring and engine casting so that there is no danger of the jaws slipping from position and releasing the spring as they are forced apart.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a valve spring lifter constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same in operation and compressing a valve spring.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 1, with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 3 is.a top plan view of the device, portions being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 14: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the sliding collar removed from the screw rod.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the forked ends of the spring lifting arms, showing a modified construction of the same.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates a block which is substantially triangular in shape and has a pair of circular plates 2 mounted upon opposite sides there of, pivot studs 3 projecting from opposite sides of the block and engaging the plates, and the base of the block having a curvature corresponding to that of the plates. The base of the block is formed with a transverse guide groove 4 which opens through the edges of the block, and a stem 5 is swiveled within the block, said stem being arranged in a position at substantially right angles to the base of the guide groove 4:, and being formed with a threaded portion 5 which projects from the apex of the block. A suitable handle 6 is rigid with the end of the threaded portion of the stem.

The grooved base of the block 1 is formed with a transverse slot 7 which intersects the guide groove 4 and is arranged parallel to the base of the guide groove. A pair of shoes 8 are slidable in the guide groove 4, being arranged side by side, and being held against rotary movement by engagement with the base of the guide groove. Each of the shoes 8 is provided with a pin 9, said pins operating in the respective portions of the slot 7 and the inner ends of the pins being arranged to clear each other so that the pins can travel freely back and forth in opposite directions and cross each other without any binding action.

Integral arms 10 project from the respective shoes 8 and terminate in the corresponding forked jaws 11, said jaws being movable toward and away from each other as the shoes 8 are moved within the guide groove 4:, and always maintaining a parallel relation to each other. The respective circular plates 2 on opposite sides of the block 1 are formed with radial slots 12 which slidably receive the corresponding pins 9, so that by rotating the plates in opposite directions the pins 9 and shoes 8 can be moved to open or close the aws, as may be required.

A sliding sleeve 13 is threaded upon the projecting portion 5 of the stem 5, said sleeve being provided upon opposite sides thereof with offset pairs of ears 14 between thereby sliding the shoes 8 within the guide groove 4 and moving the jaws 11 toward or away from each other. The jaws, however, always maintain a parallel relation, so that a square bearing is obtained upon the engine casting and the end of the valve spring, thereby preventing buckling of the valve spring as it is compressed, as well as possible slipping of the valve spring lifter out of position.

A slight modification is shown by Fig. 6,

in which forked jaws 11 project at an angle to the axis of the arms 10, instead of being arranged in a substantial alinement therewith, as in the previous instance. Such a construction may be convenient in some inaccessible places, although it will be understood that the manner of operation is exactly as previously described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A valve spring lifter, including a block having a transverse guide groove in the base thereof, shoes slidable in the groove and movable toward and away from each other, jaws carried by the shoes and movable toward and away from each other as the shoes are moved, plates pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the block and operatively connected to the shoes, a threaded stem swive'led upon the block, a sleeve e11- gaging the stem and slidable thereon, and link members connecting the sleeve to the respective plates forforcibly revolving the same in opposite directions.

2. A valve spring lifter including a block having a transverse guide groove in the base thereof and provided with a transverse slot which intersects the guide groove and is parallel to the base thereof, shoes slidable in the guide groove, pins carried by the shoes and received within the respective portions of the transverse slot, jaws carried by the shoes and movable toward and away from each other as the shoes are moved, plates pivotally mounted upon the block and formed with radial slots looseiy receiving the before mentioned pins, and means for revolving the plates in opposite directions.

3. A valve spring lifter including a block having a transverse guide groove in the base thereof and formed with a transverse slot intersecting the guide groove and arranged parallel to the base thereof, shoes slidable within the guide groove and movable back and forth in opposite directions, pins projecting from the shoes and slidable within the transverse slot of the block, jaws carried by the shoes and movable toward and away from each other as the shoes are moved, plates pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the block and formed with radial slots receiving the respective pins of the shoes, a stem swiveled upon the block and projecting therefrom, a sleeve threaded upon the stem and link members connecting the sleeve to the respective plates for forcibly revolving them in opposite directions.

1. A valve spring lifter including a block, shoes slidable back and forth upon the base of the block and having the same general line of movement, guide means for directing the shoes in their movements, jaws carried by the shoes and movable toward and away from each other as the shoes are moved, plates pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the block and operatively connected to the respective shoes, a stem swiveled upon the block and projecting therefrom, a sleeve having a threaded engagement with the stem, and link members pivotally connecting the sleeve to the respective plates for forcibly rotating the plates in opposite directions as the sleeve is moved in and out upon the stem.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTON PLACEK.

Witnesses J. E. VOTAVA, ANNA VOTAVA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

